Prepping, once considered paranoia, is now deemed responsible considering the current political, physical, and economic climate. If you’re reading this, I presume you agree. Unfortunately, being aware of an approaching storm and knowing how to prepare for it do not necessarily coincide, and often the questions of “what to prepare?” and “how to prepare?” can be overwhelming to even consider. This article seeks to clarify these queries and demystify this complex subject. For the sake of simplicity, we will start with food storage methods and supplies, bearing in mind that there are various broad categories such as FOOD, WATER, SHELTER, POWER, PROTECTION, MEDICATION, and TRAINING.

When storing food its best to focus on practicality first.

#1 Begin by stocking up on pantry and shelf-stable staples that your family enjoys and uses daily, like peanut butter, pasta, rice, beans, lentils, honey, cereals, oats, and canned goods. When feasible, aim to double or triple the quantity of each item. Adopting a pantry-first approach offers numerous advantages and is simple to expand upon, as it builds on the existing practice of storing food for your family, albeit on a smaller scale. It also enables you to monitor consumption rates, which can help identify which food items require increased focus based on supply and demand. Focus on rice, dry or canned beans, peanut butter, honey, pasta, oatmeal, cereal, etc. It is recommended to store canned goods with traditional lids rather than pop-top lids, as the latter have a thinner rim that is prone to damage due to easy opening. Cans requiring a can opener are generally more durable and have a longer shelf life.

#2 Fridge and freezer essentials are crucial for family staples that require refrigeration or freezing. It’s advisable to divide some refrigerated items into the freezer portion. This strategy not only frees up space in the refrigerator but also preserves perishables for an extended period. Items such as meat, milk, cheese, and bread are prime examples. Additionally, this approach aids in creating a backup plan for long-term food storage.

#3 Long term, freeze-dried food and preservation methods rank third in my food storage priorities. This is primarily because such items can be costly and cumbersome to store. Although it’s prudent and essential to have food that can last up to 25 years, it’s more of a luxury than a daily necessity so therefore falling behind the other lines of effort. As previously stated, we believe it is crucial to prioritize stocking up on goods that can be regularly cycled for daily use and consider long-term food storage as a secondary option. Long-term food storage should include methods such as canning, vacuum-sealed bags, and Mylar-lined food buckets, among others. We recommend food grade gamma lid buckets when storing food due to their ability to easily seal and prevent spoiling.

We talked about food the storage plan, now let’s focus on the food usage plan:

Imagine the power grid goes down, leaving you without electricity and unsure of when it will be restored. The next step? Adjust your food storage strategy to cope with the situation. By utilizing the frozen or refrigerated food first, you start working through food storage in a way that prevents the likelihood of cold or frozen food from going bad. Some may not agree, but it is advisable to consume perishable food items first. This is because pantry or shelf-stable foods remain safe to eat without electricity and should thus be used later or given lower priority. The freeze-dried long term food storage food should stay in storage and used last. Remember the perishable food? If you’re wondering how to cook perishable or frozen food when the power goes out, now is the time to begin planning and devising solutions.

How much do I store?

It is advisable to plan for a minimum of 3,000 calories per person, each day. According to the Military Recommended Dietary Allowances (MRDA), males aged 19-34 in military service may require between 2,600 to 3,600 calories daily while in field conditions, with the exact amount varying based on altitude, temperature, and the nature of their work. It’s clear that not all readers are soldiers or of military age, yet a solid baseline for energy requirements is beneficial. The concept of 3,000 calories per person per day ensures a buffer, as not everyone will need that amount. By storing and planning for a higher calorie count per person, you can ensure an ample supply. Below is a quick reference guide for the caloric content of pantry foods.

3200 calories per 1 LB of rice (white rice stores for longer that brown rice)

1600 calories per 1 LB box of pasta

2520 calories per 16 oz jar of peanut butter

1040 calories per 1 LB bag of dried black beans

1690 calories per 1 LB bag of dried garbanzo beans

This list isn’t exhaustive, but it’s a great starting point.